Andre Akpan

Andre Akpan
Andre Ubong Akpan (born December 9, 1987) is an American former soccer player who most recently played for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.
Career
Youth and college
Akpan was born in Grand Prairie, Texas, to a Nigerian father and an American mother. He played for coaches Hassan Nazari and David Hudgell on the '88 Dallas Texans, and his prolific scoring touch helped lead his team to back-to-back-to-back USYSA National Championships (U17, U18, U19), as well as a Dallas Cup Super Group Victory - a feat that no other American team has accomplished in the last 25 years. He played high school soccer at The Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, where he was the all-time leading scorer with 111 goals over four years. He also attained the single-season scoring record with 37 goals.
In 2006, Akpan entered Harvard University where he played on the men's soccer team, and was also a member of The Phoenix – S K Club. He was the 2006 Ivy League rookie of the year and first team All Ivy League. In 2007, he was a second team NSCAA All American. While at Harvard he also made appearances for USL Premier Development League clubs Westchester Flames and Chicago Fire Premier, helping the latter to the 2009 USL PDL championship game, and scoring in the final.
Professional
Akpan was drafted in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Colorado Rapids. He made his professional debut on April 13, 2010, in a US Open Cup game against the Kansas City Wizards. His first MLS goal was scored on April 30, 2011, against the Chicago Fire equalizing just after halftime.
Akpan made a short-term loan switch to USL Second Division club Real Maryland Monarchs in June 2010, where he made one league appearance and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appearance. Akpan made his second short-term loan switch of the season to USSF D-2 club FC Tampa Bay in July 2010.
On March 28, 2013, Akpan was traded to New York Red Bulls in exchange for a conditional 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick. In his first season with New York, Akpan played in seven regular season matches, recording two assists. He was also the team's top scorer in the MLS Reserve League scoring 10 goals.
Akpan was traded by New York with allocation money to New England Revolution in exchange for Saër Sène and an international roster spot on August 12, 2014.
International
Akpan was a member of the United States U-20 team for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He scored a hat trick in qualifying and appeared in the quarterfinals.
Honours
Colorado Rapids
Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship (1): 2010
Major League Soccer MLS Cup (1): 2010
New York Red Bulls
MLS Supporters' Shield(1): 2013
References
External links
Harvard bio
1987 births
Living people
Soccer players from Texas
Sportspeople from Dallas County, Texas
Sportspeople from Tarrant County, Texas
Harvard Crimson men's soccer players
Westchester Flames players
Chicago Fire U-23 players
Colorado Rapids players
Real Maryland F.C. players
Tampa Bay Rowdies players
New York Red Bulls players
New England Revolution players
USL League Two players
Major League Soccer players
USL Second Division players
USSF Division 2 Professional League players
American sportspeople of Nigerian descent
United States men's under-20 international soccer players
Colorado Rapids draft picks
People from Grand Prairie, Texas
Sportspeople from Ellis County, Texas
American men's soccer players
All-American college men's soccer players
Men's association football forwards